PFLAG Lubbock March 2017
View this email in your browser
March PFLAG Meeting
Film Screening: Out Of Order
(Please note the change of location for this special event. The Social planned for March 21 has been postponed until April 18.)

Jody Randall, the new LGBTQIA Administrator, at Texas Tech, has arranged for a screening of the film, Out of Order. In this groundbreaking feature documentary, the complex and painful struggles faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer faith leaders takes center stage as they confront entrenched bigotry and work to build loving support within their churches. Free admission.

We urge all PFLAGers to take opportunity to see this film about a subject that certainly is an issue in many churches in Lubbock and throughout West Texas. Also, this will be a first for many of you to meet Jody Randall. See you at the screening at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 21. We will not have our regular March PFLAG meeting at St John’s, and have moved our spring social to April 18. See calendar below for details.
Upcoming Events
March 21: Screening of film Out of Order. Red Raider Lounge, Texas Tech Student Union Building, 7:00 p.m.

June 20: PFLAG Potluck Picnic and Scholarship Award: Tim and Tony’s at 3105 42nd. Street, 7:00 p.m.
PFLAG Lubbock Board Meetings
The next scheduled board meeting will be on Tuesday, April 3, at 7:00 p.m., at the home of Tony and Tim, 3105 42nd Street. Board members will receive a notice prior to the meeting. We will do a follow up evaluation of the drag show and discuss scholarship applications and awards

Thanks!

THANKS to PFLAG parents, Lori and Steve Manning, Louise and Steve Cade and Grace and Tom Rogers for speaking to the SPeCtra students on Thursday, March 9, on the Reese campus of South Plains College. These families told of their experiences being parents to gay offspring. SPeCtra is the new name for the former GSA of SPC. They meet each 2nd and 4th Thursday at either the Reese or Levelland campus. Check their social media sites to get specifics on meetings.

If anyone, parents, allies, LGBTQIA adults or students, would like to join our speakers’ bureau, please let us know. PFLAG is asked from time to time to get panels of speakers for classes and organizations. If interested, contact Tony Thornton and give him your name and contact information.
Membership Renewal is Vital to PFLAG Lubbock’s Continuation!!

Since PFLAG Lubbock has been an active chapter beginning in March, 1993, we all simply assume it will always be there when we need it, so why bother to pay dues or volunteer? Well, our dues paying membership has fallen to a new low, and still we have vital work to do, particularly relating to all the anti-LGBT legislation being purposed in the Texas Legislature and to let our voices for equality be heard by the new Republican President and Congress. The PFLAG Lubbock hotline receives many calls from people here in Lubbock and West Texas who are seeking information and support. We need both your dues and your assistance, but if you are too busy, at least help us by paying your dues yearly. Check out the cost of the dues and the various means by which you can pay at the end of this newsletter. Members of the Board will have to start calling former members soon if dues are not forthcoming. PLEASE!
ALYSSA EDWARDS TO HEADLINE THE DRAG SHOW!

Mark your calendars and don’t miss the 8th Annual TTU Drag Show on Wednesday, March 22, 8:00 p.m., in the Texas Tech SUB Ballroom. This show should be the best ever as Alyssa Edwards, featured on RuPaul’s All Stars TV show, will be the featured headliner. Edwards’ performance will be preceded by a number of amateur queens, and by our MC, Emologie, and the Club Pink queens.

A limited number (150) of VIP tickets are being sold for $10.00, and when this tickets is presented at the door, ticket holder is guaranteed a seat in the reserved section near the runway, a free poster, and a “meet and greet” with the drag queens following the show. Call or text Tony Thornton at 806-786-1251 to see if VIP tickets are still available.

General admission is free and wristbands will be issued upon admittance. The venue was filled to capacity last year, and late arrivals were turned away because of fire regulations, so be there when the doors open at 7:30 p.m. to be sure of admittance.

Remember to bring your cash to tip the queens and to fill the buckets. All profits go to PFLAG Lubbock to fund the Lola Marie Drew Scholarships awarded each June to LGBTQIA college students or allies.

This show is a cooperative effort by Texas Tech’s Residence Halls Association, Tech GSA and PFLAG Lubbock.
Allies’ Roundtable

Topic: Intersectionality of Faith and the LGBTQIA Community
Time and Place: Thursday, March 23 at 2:30 p.m. in the Mesa Room, Texas Tech SUB
Have you ever wanted to know more about the intersectionality of faith and the LGBTQIA community? Does the boundaries of organized religion include space and affirmation of varying sexual orientations and/or gender identities? What role does social justice have in religious organizations? If any of these questions interest you, please consider joining in this ally roundtable. Registration is required by March 15; register by calling 806-742-5433 or by email to jody.randall@ttu.edu. Space is limited.
TTU GSA to Host Transgender Panel
Wednesday, March 29: Tech GSA will feature a transgender panel at their regular meeting in coordination with the “Trans Day of Visibility,” which is on March 31. GSA meets on campus in Room 38 (basement) of Holden Hall at 7:00 p.m. The public is invited to attend.
Affordable Counseling Available

Summer Hawkins, Texas Tech doctoral student in counseling and PFLAG Board Secretary, would like for PFLAG members to know that counseling is available to the general public through the Texas Tech University Psychology Clinic. Fees charged are on a sliding scale, based on income, and for most people are quite affordable. The phone number for the clinic is 806-742-3737. Texas Tech students can, of course, get counseling through the Texas Tech University Student Counseling Center at 806-742-3674. For additional information on both clinics, contact Summer Hawkins at summer.hawkins@ttu.edu.

President’s Message

March 2017
Welcome, all, to the President’s message. Many of you will be on spring break when this publication is released. I remember those days. Had lots of fun with a mini vacation. Be careful and be safe!!

We have had some great panels in the last few weeks. Two nights at TTU speaking in a class of psychology students and a parents’ panel at SPC. Thank you, Grace, for helping greatly with these three education events. This is one of the most important parts of our mission.

Coming March 22 is our biggest fundraiser of the year, the annual DRAG SHOW at TTU. We are so grateful to the TTU-GSA and the TTU-RHA. See the full write up in this newsletter. Please try to attend.

We have a new addition to our Board. Most of you know this since the elections, but I wanted to acknowledge our thanks to Craig Cooley for agreeing to take this position that has been vacant since we lost Joyce Cater to another university. The Board of Directors and PFLAG members all want to give our appreciation and a big thanks to Joyce for her dedication and longevity as our Treasurer!

There is so much going on with State and National legislation that certainly should be of concern to everyone in this country, but in order for some of these issues to be relevant to everyone, it will take some education. Try to stay informed on these issues that can or will affect everyone’s life. Remember, you do have a voice, please use it. It can be more powerful than you realize.

The annul scholarship program will be launched soon. This award is available to GLBT students at TTU and the surrounding area. When the 2017 application packet is available it will be posted on our website under the Scholarship tab. I will post an announcement to our Facebook page and website. We encourage you to apply.

Looking forward to Spring and Summer and all that they brings.

Thank you,
Be Kind to Each Other,

Tony R Thornton

President
PFLAG Lubbock
Pay Your Dues and Get a Deal on a PFLAG T-Shirt
PFLAG Lubbock is offering a reduced price of $10.00 on our T-Shirts for members who renew or for new paid memberships. This offer is also available for those who have already paid their membership dues this year. Contact Tim Tippit to purchase a T-Shirt at this bargin price!

Paying your dues helps to educate, support and advocate for the LGBTQ community. Dues can be given to Tim Tippit at any meeting, or can be mailed to PO Box 9449, Lubbock, TX 79493. Dues also can be paid online by going to our web page, http://www.pflaglubbock.org, and clicking on the membership link. A portion of the dues goes to support the national PFLAG organization, and a part remains with our chapter to support our mission and work locally. We need and appreciate your attendance and participation, and ask you to consider renewing your membership or becoming a new member.

Even for those newsletter readers who do not regularly attend meetings, your financial support is vitally needed and greatly appreciated. IF it were not for our dues paying members, PFLAG Lubbock would not be able to exist.

Thank you,
Tim Tippit
VP Membership
Can you help us arrange refreshments for 2017 chapter meetings?
If you’ve been looking for a way to lend a hand to your local PFLAG chapter, this is a great opportunity. Please contact Tony, Tim or Grace at any meeting or email one of them to get on one of our monthly meetings.

Show Your Support
Want to show your support of PFLAG Lubbock? We still have some PFLAG Lubbock t-shirts available for purchase!
We have these shirts on hand at our chapter meetings. They are $15 each and all proceeds go to support PFLAG Lubbock’s efforts in support, education, and advocacy for our local LGBTQ community. You can help us build up our scholarship fund for deserving local LGBTQ students here in West Texas.
Help us in-crease the visibility of our name and logo so we can reach more of our Lubbock LGBTQ family!

THE PFLAG MISSION
PFLAG promotes the health and well‑being of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons, and their families and friends through: support, to cope with an adverse society; education, to enlighten an ill‑informed public; and advocacy, to end discrimination and to secure equal civil rights. Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays provides opportunity for dialogue about sexual orientation and gender identity, and acts to create a society that is healthy and respectful of human diversity.

Notice from PFLAG
This film screening was recently forwarded to us and we wanted to share this opportunity with you.
We hope you will attend~~~~~~Tony T

Southwest of Salem Film Showing
Monday, March 6 – 5:30 p.m. – Lanier Auditorium, School of Law

Organized by the Texas Tech School of Law as part of their Diversity Week, watch the documentary film, Southwest of Salem about the San Antonio Four, four Latina lesbians in their fight against mythology and homophobia. Film screening followed by a panel-style Q & A with the San Antonio Four.

PFLAG Lubbock

Monthly meetings: 3rd Tuesday of each month (September through November; January through May), 7:00 pm, at St. John’s United Methodist Church. We have a picnic in June and a social in December. We do not meet in July or August.